Who Was Doeg the Edomite?
Who Was Doeg the Edomite? Doeg was Saul's chief herdsman who betrayed David and slaughtered the priests of Nob, becoming a byword for treacherous tale-bearing.
Key verse: 1 Samuel 22:18 (KJV)
Doeg was Saul's chief herdsman who betrayed David and slaughtered the priests of Nob, becoming a byword for treacherous tale-bearing.
Doeg was Saul's chief herdsman who betrayed David and slaughtered the priests of Nob, becoming a byword for treacherous tale-bearing.
"And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod." — 1 Samuel 22:18 (KJV)
Meaning
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The Biblical Answer
Doeg the Edomite first appears in 1 Samuel 21 as 'the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul,' detained before the Lord at Nob the day David fled there. David, hungry and unarmed, came to the high priest Ahimelech, who gave him the shewbread and the sword of Goliath, not knowing David was fleeing Saul. Doeg saw it all. Later, when Saul lamented that no one cared for him, Doeg seized his opportunity: 'I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.' Saul summoned Ahimelech and all the priests of his father's house. Despite their innocent protests, Saul ordered them killed. When his own footmen refused to lift their hand against the priests of the Lord, Saul commanded Doeg: 'Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.' He then smote Nob, the city of the priests — men, women, children, sucklings, oxen, asses, and sheep — with the edge of the sword. Only Abiathar escaped to David. David said, 'I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.' Psalm 52, written about this incident, denounces Doeg: 'Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully... God shall likewise destroy thee for ever.' Doeg stands as a warning against the deadly power of the tongue used in malice, and against the cowardice of doing evil to please a powerful man.
Key Scripture References
"And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod."
"Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah."
"And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
Who Was King Saul in the Bible?
Saul was the first king of Israel — chosen by God, anointed by Samuel, and ultimately rejected for his disobedience.
What Does the Bible Say About the Power of the Tongue?
The Bible teaches that the tongue has extraordinary power — for both life and death — and calls believers to guard their speech.
Who Was Melchizedek in the Bible?
Melchizedek was a mysterious king of Salem and priest of the Most High God who blessed Abraham and received tithes from him.
Who Was Abraham in the Bible?
Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation, called by God from Ur of the Chaldees, and known as the 'father of faith.'
Who Was Moses?
Moses was the great deliverer and lawgiver of Israel who led the Exodus from Egypt and received the Ten Commandments from God.
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The answer above sits inside 1 Samuel. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
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